Railway switch



H. R. RALL.

RAILWAY s'wlTcH.

APPLlCATlON FILED AUG.27, 1921.

1 ,407,2 1 9 Patented Feb. 21, A1922.

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, Znz/emm' I I Z5 25.4 MAM-ffl@ To all whom t may concern.'

Hans n. naar, v'or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAILWAY SWITCH.

Be it known that I, HANSV R. BALI., a citizen ofthe United States,residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in'Railway Switches, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that: class of railway switches or crossingshaving a switch rod provided with means for adjustably connecting itwith the rails.

The principal object of the inventionis to provide a simple, economicalaad efficient railway switch having a switch rod and movable railmembers, and having an improved, simple, strong and eiiicient means foradjustablyI connecting the switch rod with the movable rail members, andfor securely connecting the movable rails inadjustable relation to eachother and in properly spaced apart position with respect to each otherand with respect to the fixed or stationary rails of the switch orcrossing.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear from thefollowing description and claims, and from 'the accompanying drawings,which are made a part hereof.

The invention consists in the features, combinations, and details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts herein described and claimed. v

In the accompanying drawings- Figure l is a plan view of a railwayswitch having a switch rod and movable rail members provided with meansforconnecting the same in adjustable relation constructed and adapted tooperate in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in transverse vertical section takenon line 2 2 of Fig. l, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,and showing the track rails on one side of the track and switch insection, and the switch rod and my improved connecting means forming anadjustable connection between the switch rod and movable track rail orswitch rail in side elevation, the connecting means on both sides of theswitch or track being identical; Fig. 3 is a plan view of my improvedadjustable connecting mechanism shown in Figs. l and 2; Y Y

Fig. 4, is a view in elevation showing my improved adjustable connectingmechanism in operative position and forming aconnection between theswitch rod.9 which is sgecnicaumiof Ieaersratent. Patented 'Feb'21;19221 Application filed August 27,v i921. Serial'Noli496,097.Y

shown yin transverse section, taken Online n.

4 4 of Fig. 1,'looking in the direction vin! dicated by the arrows;V l;Fig. 5 `s a detail pla-n view of a toothed or serrated Zand perforatedportion @of Ya switcltfrod shown'in Figs." l, 2, 3 and 4;

Fig. 6, isa view in side-elevation ofthe serrated'switch-rodshown inFig,5; and

Fig. 7 is -a detail View ofa `toothedor serrated detent4 or rod-engagingtoothed member shownin Figs. 3 andt in engage# ment with theswitch rod.Y

-' in constructing a railway switch or cross'- ing provided with aswitch rod and movable rails yor rail'm'embershaving means foradjustably connecting the switch rod and movable rails in accordancewith my invention, lI provide railway ties 1 on which are laid andsecured iiXed track rails-2, 2, in the usual or any desired or ordinarymanner. And

movable'or a'rdjustable switch rails 3, 3, are

laid adjacentto and in adjustable-relation tothe fixed-rails and inpositionv tobe supportedby the ties inany position into which they aremoved or adjusted. 4Tie plates .4 are rigidly secured to the ties bymeans of, spikes or other ordinary or desired securing means, and arerigidly lconnected with lthe fixed or stationary track rails-2inl theusual or any ordinary or suitablemanner. The tie plates 4 extend inwardbetween the vmain track rails, and beneath and in supporting engagementwith the adjustable or movable switch railsl 3 which rest upon and in.slidable engagement with the top surfaces of the tieplates, therailpoints v5 being adjustable or movable transversely of the track intoand outof engagement with4 the main track rails 2 to open and close theswitch. The opposite extremities ofthe rails 3 are supported inoperative positionin the ordinary `manner familiar and lwell known .tothose skilled in the art, andare therefore not shown inthe drawings. i.v A switch rod 6l is adjustably or movably mounted between the'ties rin transverserrelation to the track, and extends transversely beneaththe main track rails2fand the 'ad' justable switch rails 3, vand isconnected with an operating rod 7 which is adapted to b operativelyconnected ,withand operatedl by 1 1 members 8 are provided, eachsecured. to the and inner side of a corresponding movable switch rail 3by means of bolts 9 and nuts 10, which bolts extend through -the uprightportion 11 of the socket member or bracket 8 and throughthe upright webor body oi. the rail, or by similar or other suitable securing means. -1

Each socket member 8, thus ysecured inr fixed relation to acorresponding one of a pai-r of parallel switch rails to be adjustablyconnected in operative position, and secured in parallel relation so asto be readily moved to switch-opening or lswitch closing position, andspread apart, or adjusted closer together to properly spaced-apartposition, is adapted yto vbe adjustably connected with the trans'- verseswitch rod 3. vAnd each of said socket members 8 comprises initsconstruction a adapted to project downward on the inside of the rail andbelow the level of the rail base, and between the ties. This innerdepending portion `16 of the socket member 8 is provided with ahorizontal slot 17 which extends through the depending socket portion 16below the level of the bottom or base of the rail and in transverserelation to the track rails and said socket member. Said slot 17 isadapted to admit and slidably and ad'ustably engage the switch rod 6.

- J-.Fhe depending slotted socket portion 16 extends beneath the Vbaseof the movable rail to which it is attached, and has a horizontal notch0r slot 29 in the side toward the railY and into which the inner sideedge of the corresponding rail base extends. The space .occupied by thedevice is thus minimized. Y

The switch rod has a toothed edge or marginal portion 18 which consistsof or comprises any desired number of teeth on the verticalllongitudinal edge or surface 19 'of the switchrod, each. of said teethbeing, by preference, vertical and adapted to tace inward toward theinner extremity orl vertical side wall 20 of the slot 17 in the socketmember, when the switch rod is in operative position f inadjustableengagement wvith the socket member and slot. N An intermediatelaterally toothed angular bar member 21, provided with a series or anydesired number of vertical laterally projecting teeth 22 in the verticallongitudinal side face thereof, yand projecting toward and in adjustableopposed relation and overlapping engagement with the opposed teeth 18 onthe switch rod, is mounted in the slot 17 in the socket member 8 andbetween the toothed portion 18 of the switch rod, and the inner sidewall or bottom 20 of the slot 17, and has outer angular end portions 23which project from and are integral with the opposite end portions ofthe toothed bar 21. These angular end portions 23 are in parallelrelation and extend on oppositesides of the depending portion 16 of thesocket member 8 and in snugly iittingengagement with the side walls ofthe same, so that the toothed bar 21 thus interposed between the toothedportion 18 of the switch rod, and the inner wall 2O of the socket memberis removably 'held in the socket or slotted portion 17 of the socketmember, and in relatively adjustable toothed engagement with the opposedteeth 18 on the switch rod.

The switch rod is provided with an elongated slot 24 which extendsvertically lthrough the switch rod and is elongated in a directionlongitudinally of the same. And this slot has a vertical side wall 25 onthe side toward the teeth 18 and in parallel or approximately parallelrelation to the'series of teeth 18. And a bolt 26 having a head27 ismounted in vertical position in suitable vertical openings in thedepending slotted portion 16 of the socket member 8, and in position toextend vertically through the slot 17 in said socket member and throughthe elongated slot 24 in the switch rod. The vertical peripheral face orside of the bolt is thus in engagement with the side wall 25 of theelongated slot 24; in thev switch rod on the side of the bolt which-faces toward the opposed overlapping relatively. adjustably lockingteeth 18 on the switch'rod and teeth 22 on the bar 21 ixed to the socketmember. The vertical peripheral side or face Vof the bolt is thusadapted to holdthe opposed teeth 18, and 21 in locking engagement in anyposition into which they are adapted to be adjusted with respect to eachother. And the opposed engaged teeth 18 and 21 and said bolt thus holdtheuswitch rod in securely connected adjustable relation to the socketmember o-r members 8. Each bolt `26 is rprovided with a nut 28 inthreaded engagement with the threaded end thereof, or with other similaror suitable securing means for holding the bolt firmly in operativeposition in engagement with the socket member and switch rod.

The switch rod shown in the'drawings is provided with two serrated ortoothed side marginal portions or edges 18; and two socket members 8, 8,are shown in Fig. 1, each ixed. to a dierent one of a pair of movableswitch rails 3, and each adjustably connected with a toothed portion ofthe same switch rod 6. The adjustably connected switch rod and socketmembers are thus adapted to connect the movable switch rails in properlyspaced apart relation to each other, andbpermit the rails;

ing position and into andout of contact.

with the Afixed track rails as desired.

vIt is obvious thatl the switch rod and socket members thus adjustablyconnected are adapted to be used in connection with either a Vsingleslip switch, a double slip switch, or a movable point crossing. theswitch rod thus operativel connected with and forming an adjusta leconnection between parallel movable switch rails, is adaptedy to beoperated by any ordinary and well known or suitable switch-operatingmeans, or from a switch stand which may be of any desired or ordinarytype.V

IV claim:

1. In a railway switch, the combination of a switch rod, a socket memberadapted to be secured to one of a pair of movable switch rails to beoperatively connected, saidv socket member having a slotted portion intowhich said switch rod extends,'op posed teeth located between and fixedto adjacent surfaces of said switch rod and socket member respectivelyand in engagement with each other, a bolt mounted in the socket memberand in engagement with the switch rod and acting to hold said opposedteeth in adjustablerelation, said engaged teeth and bolt acting to holdthe switch rod and socket member in adjustable relation, and means vforsecuring the switch rod in operative engagement with the other one ofsaid pair of switch rails.

2. In a railway switch, the combination of a switch rod, a socket memberadapted to be secured to one of a pair of movable switch rails, saidsocket member having a slotted portion into which the switch rodextends, opposed teeth fixed to adjacent surfaces of said switch rod andsocket member, respectively and in engagement with each other, a boltmounted in the socket member and having a side face in engagement withthe switch rod and facing to` 'ward and tending to hold said engagedteeth in engagement, said engaged teeth and said bolt co-acting to holdthe switch rod and socket member in adjustable relation, and means foroperatively connecting the switch rod with the other one of said pair ofswitch rails.

3. In a railway switch, the combination of a switch rod, a socket memberadapted to be secured to one of a pair of movable switch rails, saidsocket member having a4 slotted portion into which the switch rodextends, opposed teeth located between and fixed to adjacent surfaces'of said switch rod and Socket member respectively, a bolt And mountedin the socket member andfin adjustable relation to the switch rod, saidvboltl having a peripheral face in engagement with. the switchY rodl andfacing toward and acting to hold said opposed teeth rin.engagement andin relativelyl adjustable relation between 'the switch rod and socket nmember, said engaged rteeth andv said bolt acting to hold the switch rodand socket,

member in adjustable relation, and means for operatively connecting theswitch ,rod-

with the'other one ofsaid pair'of rails.

4( In a railway switch, the combination of a switch rod having ay'toothed marginal porf tion, a socket member adapted to be secured toone of a pair of movable switch rails, and having a slotted portion Y.into which said toothed portion of the switch Vrod extends, anintermediate toothed member interposed between thesocket member and the.toothed portion of the switch rod and in toothed engagement with thelatter, a bolt mountedy in the socketA member and having a peripheralside face in engagement with the switchl rod and tending to hold thetoothed marginal portion of the switch rod in toothed.

Vengagement with said intermediate toothed member, saidengaged toothedmembers and said bolt acting to hold the switch rod in adjustablerelation to Land in operative engagement with the socket member, andmeans for operatively connecting the switch rod with the otherone ofsaid pair of-rails.

5; In a railwayV switch, -the'- combination of a switch rod having atoothed marginal portion, and provided with an elongated slot, a socketmember adapted to be secured tok one of a pair of movable .switch rails,said socket member having a slotted portion into which said switch rodextends, an intermediate toothed bar removably mounted between thesocket member and the toothed portion of the switch rod and in toothedengagement with the latter, a bolt mounte-d in the socket member andextending through the elongated slot in the toothed switch rod, andhaving a side face of said bolt in engagement with the slotted portionof the switch rod and facing toward and acting to hold said toothedmarginal portion of the'switch rod intoothed engagement with saidintermediate toothed bar, said engaged toothed members and said boltacting to hold the switch -rod and said socket member together inadjustable relation, and means for operatively connecting the switch rodwith the other one of said pair of switch rails.

6. In a railway switch, the combination of a switch rod, a pair ofsocket members each adapted to be secured to a corresponding one of apair of movable switch rails toy Y ber and in engagement with the switchrod and acting to hold saidtoothed members in adjustable relation, andmeans for securing each of said socket members to a corre spondingmovable switch rail.

7. ln a railway switch, the combination of a switch rod having a toothedmarginal portion Yand provided wfith an elongated slot, a socket memberadapted to be secured in'i'ixed relation to one of a pair of movableswitch'rails to be operatively connected, said socket member having adepending slotted portion projecting beneath the bottom of the rail andinto which said switch rod eX- tends, an intermediate toothed bar fixedto the slotted socket member and in toothed engagement with the toothedswitch rod, an

Aupright bolt mounted in the socket member and extending through theelongated slot in the toothed switch rod, and having a side face of saidbolt 'in engagement with the slotted portion of the switch rod andfacing toward and acting to hold said toothed marginal portion of theswitch rod in toothed engagement with said intermediate toothed bar,said engaged toothed members and said bolt acting to hold the switch rodand said socket member in adjustable relation, and means for operativelyconnecting the switch rod with the other one of said pair of rails. Y

8. ln a railway switch, the combination of a switch rod having a toothedportion and provided with an elongated slot, a socket member adapted tobe` secured to one of a' and acting to hold the toothed marginal por--tion of the switch rod in toothed vengagement with said intermediatetoothed member, said intermediate toothed member and said bolt co-actingto hold said switch rod and said socket member securely connected inadjustable relation, and a second socket member connected with the otherone of said pair of switch rails and adjustably connected with saidswitch rod.

Signed at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, this 18th day of August, 1921.

HANS R. RALL. Vfitnesses:

M. HARDING, WILLIAM A. SHELY.

